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F. G. WHEELER; METHOD AND MEANS OF TREATING COTTON -BALES FOR. AND

Patented Sept.19,1876.

DURING COMPRES SION,

7l i'mawwau' NFETERS. FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER WlSNINGTON. D C.

. name; STATES PATENT Ema FREDERICK G. WHEELER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y."

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS AND MEANS OF TREATING COTTON-BALES FllR ANDDURING j COMPRESSION.

.. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [82,339, datedSeptember 19, I870 application filed February 24, 1876. i

State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method of and Meansfor Treating (Jotton-Bales'for and duringOompression; and

I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description ofthe same, reference being bad to the accompanying draw ings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists mainly, first, in a novel method of treatingcotton-bales for compression, consisting, essentially, in applying thebands to the bale before it enters the press, and holding them beforeand during the time of compression by means of independent frames;second in the peculiar means employed for carrying the method intoeffect, consisting, mainly, of certain independent frames, of specialconstruction, as will be fully described hereinafter.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the method of applying theframes to the bale 1 before it enters the press Fig. 2, aplan view ofone of the frames, showing its adj ustability; Fig. 3, a cross-section,showing the method of uniting the plates of the frame,and Fig. 4modified forms of fastenings for the ends of the braces.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow proceed to describe fully' its construction and manner of operation.1 A generaldescription of my invention may be made as follows The baleto be compressed is fully prepared for the press before it enters it,its old bandsbeing removed and its new ones applied. These latter areheld in place, and the shape of the bale also is preserved until it isfinally compressed, by certain independent frames, which are temporarilyapplied to the top and bottom surfaces, and secured together, to permitthe bale to undergo the necessary handling without disarrangement of itsstraps ordisplacement of its bulk. Each frame is, preferably, made intwo parts, adapted to be drawn apart or forced together, for the purposeof adjusting the frames, as a whole, to accommodate bales of varyingwidth. Each is also provided with side frames or plates, hinged tothemain frame, 1

which are adapted to bend over the bands properly, and also to' hold thecorners and sides of the bale squarely inplace.

or represents the side rod of one of the parts, which-isprovided with aseries of bars, a, attached at right angles thereto, at proper distancesapart, as shown. The edges of the bars are providedwith curved orangular projections, Fig. 3, adapted to fit correspondingly-formedgrooves in the opposite bars, as shown. l

b represents a sideframe or plate, constructed inanysuitable manner, andof proper material, which is hinged to the side rod of the main frame,as shown. These side frames should be so attached to the. main frame asnot to project below the outer surface of the main frame, in order thatthe latter may lie solidly upon the bed when in the press, as shown inFig. 1.

0 represents a strengthening-bar, longitudinally attached to the sideframe, as shown, which is provided at each end with a pivotedlocking-bar, 0, adapted, at its free end by a series of hooks, to becaught into the notch in the corresponding bar of the other part.

01 cl represent corner-connecting chains, provided with any suitablefastening devices. 7

The relation of the parts when united is represented in Fig. 1. One ofthese frames is adapted for the top surface of the bale, and the otherforthe bottom, the construction being the same, excepting that thenotches and hooks of the holding-bars are located in reverse positions,in order that they may not be 7 unlocked by gravity.

If desired, however, the bar may be so lockedthat the frames will beinterchangeable, which result may be accomplished by the employment ofrings or openings, in connection with a stud, as shown in Fig. 4, when,of

course, both frames will be identioalin construction. V l

The manner of using these frames is as follows: Thebale to beoperatedupon, having been stripped of its old bands,vor nearly so, is placedupon one of the frames, which, having been adjusted to suit the width ofthe bale,

lies within the bands properly laid upon it, spread out upon the fioor;or it may be upon .a moving surface, adapted to carry it to the press.The bands are then placed upon the top surface, and covered by anotherframe. The side frames of each are then turned into position, properlylocked, and the corner-chains fastened together, as indicated in. Fig.1, when the bale is ready for the press. After compression, the ends ofthe. short bands are looked upon each side in any proper manner, and theside frame being unlocked, and

the upper one removed, in any suitable manner, the bale is taken fromthe press. The

' lower frame is then taken out, to make the press ready for anotherbale.

The great advantage of this method is that any number of bales may befully prepared for the press before entering it, so that the timeoccupied in treating the bale in the press is reduced to the minimumamatter of great practical importance. By the employment,

- also, of the hinged framesthe bales are caused to retain their shapeagainst the tendency to lateral expansion, and hence the difficultiesarising from this cause are avoided.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown. If desired, theframes may be constructed in other Ways, and be provided with othermeans of adjustment. If desired, also, thismethod, and the meansdescribed,

may be applied to other substances than to cotton.

Having thus fully described my invention, 2

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Themethod describedof treating cottonbales before and during compression,consisting, essentially, in applying the bands to the bale before itenters the press, and holding them before and during the time ofcompression by means of independent frames, substan tiall y asdescribed.

2. In combination with a bale and securingbands laid upon the same, anindependent removable frame for holding the bands in place, asdescribed.

3. A frame adapted for adjustment to suit 'bales of different width,substantially as described.

4. A frame provided with side plates or bars, hinged thereto, asdescribed.

5. An independent frame having side pieces adapted to hold the baleagainst lateral expansion, as described. 1

6. A frame having hinged sides and locking-bars, as described.

FREDERICK G. WHEELER.

Witnesses:

H. W. BEADLE, HARRY O. CLARK.

